Some TV show spin-offs are easy to spot. Everyone knows that CBS’sYoung Sheldonis a spin-off ofThe Big Bang Theoryand that The WB’sAngelstems fromBuffy the Vampire Slayer. Other spin-offs, however, are harder to recognize.
You know the shows on this list, but you might not know that they are spin-offs or where the source material originated. A few are inspired by a guest character, while others take specific stories from anthology shows and build a series around that one concept.
If you’re interested in television history, check out the origins of these 10 famous shows most people don’t know were spinoffs.
10’Elsbeth' (2024 - Present)
Based on: ‘The Good Wife’ (2009 - 2016)
The Good Fightis a pretty obvious spin-off of CBS’sThe Good Wife, but did youknow thatElsbethis also a part of that universe? Carrie Preston (True Blood) stars in the title role as the unconventional but talented lawyer Elsbeth Tascioni. Elsbeth’s introduction, however, was originally in Season 1, Episode 20 ofThe Good Wifewith Preston as a guest star. The character returned in 13 more episodes during the show’s seven-season run. In 2013, Preston won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for the role.
WhenThe Good Fightcame around, Elsbeth appeared in five episodes before getting her own series. All three shows, created by Robert King and Michelle King, have received critical acclaim for incisive writing and fantastic performances. The strange but charming Elsbeth was a fan favorite for a long time, and now,Elsbethhas thrived as a series. It is currently certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a 92% rating from critics.
9’Melrose Place' (1992 - 1999)
Based on: ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ (1990 - 2000)
Created by Darren Star (Emily in Paris),Beverly Hills, 90210is a Fox series thatran for 10 seasons. The show began with the Walsh family’s move from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Beverly Hills, California. The Walsh children, Brandon (Jason Priestley) and Brenda (Shannen Doherty), start to make friends at West Beverly Hills High School, and from there the series takes off into a whirlwind of teen drama.
At the end ofBeverly Hills, 90210’s second season, Jake Hanson (Grant Show) was introduced as a character who would carry over whenMelrose Placewas developed as a spin-off. Set in the Melrose Place apartment complex where Jake lives,Melrose Placefollows the lives of several young adults living in Los Angeles. The show garnered mixed reviews at the start, but ultimately found its footing and continued for seven seasons.
8’The Simpsons' (1989 - Present)
Based on: ‘The Tracey Ullman Show’ (1987 - 1990)
The Simpsonsisn’t just the longest-running animated primetime television show. It’s the longest-running sitcom of all time with 36 seasons and counting. Set in the town of Springfield, the show is a satirical depiction of the Simpson family as they live their lives in Middle America. It is a cultural touchstone that has inspired video games, merchandise, a theme park ride, and alot of social discourse. It has won 37 Primetime Emmy Awards over the past 36 years with over 50 nominations.
Considering how culturally relevantThe Simpsonsremains to this day, it might be hard to believe that the hit series started out as a short produced for a sketch comedy show. The first animated short appeared on Fox’sThe Tracey Ullman Showin 1987. It was called “The Simpsons: Goodnight” and was about Marge and Homer Simpson putting their three children to bed. TheTracey Ullman Showwould ultimately make 48 Simpsons shorts over three seasons. In 1989,The Simpsonswas developed as its own 30-minute animated series.
7’Family Matters' (1989 - 1898)
Based on: ‘Perfect Strangers’ (1986 - 1993)
Family Mattersstarted as an ABC sitcom that ran for nine seasons, starting on ABC, with the final season airing on CBS. The show follows the Winslows, a Black middle-class family living in Chicago, Illinois. This is the show that famouslyintroduced Steve Urkel(Jaleel White) as their pesky neighbor. Urkel appeared halfway through the first season and was only intended to be a minor character, but the public loved him, and he quickly became a member of the main cast.
William Bickley and Michael Warren createdFamily Mattersas a spin-off to the ABC sitcomPerfect Strangers. On the surface,Perfect Strangersseems to be an unlikely place forFamily Mattersto begin. The series, which ran for eight seasons, centers on the friction between the cynical Larry Appleton (Mark Linn-Baker) and his well-meaning European cousin, Balki Bartokomous (Bronson Pinchot), who comes to live with him. Harriette Winslow (Jo Marie Payton) appeared in 33 episodes ofPerfect Strangersas the elevator operator at Larry’s office. The network loved the character and decided to base a new show on Harriet and her family.
6’Wings' (1990 - 1997)
Based on: ‘Cheers’ (1982 - 1993)
Plenty ofFrasierfans know that the show is a spin-off based on the NBCclassic sitcom,Cheers. However, it wasn’t the only spin-off. Three years before the premiere ofFrasier, NBC madeWings. The series is centered on brothers Joe (Tim Daly) and Brian (Steven Weber) Hackett, who run a small commuter airport in Nantucket.Wingslasted for eight seasons and landed three Primetime Emmy Award nominations.
Unlike most spin-offs, there is no clear thoroughline fromCheerstoWings. The shows simply exist in the same universe, and occasionally characters fromCheersmight pass through theWingsairport.Cheerscharacters Cliff Clavin (John Ratzenberger), Norm Peterson (George Wendt), Rebecca Howe (Kirstie Alley), Dr. Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer), and Dr. Lilith Sternin-Crane (Bebe Neuwirth) all make appearances onWings.
5’Saved by the Bell' (1989 - 1992)
Based on: ‘Good Morning, Miss Bliss’ (1988 - 1989)
Before NBChadSaved by the Bell, there wasGood Morning, Miss Bliss. Hayley Mills (The Parent Trap) starred in the title role as an eighth-grade teacher at John F. Kennedy Junior High School in Indianapolis, Indiana. The show focused on Miss Bliss’s relationship with her students, but only ran for 13 episodes before it was canceled. The show was reformatted asSaved by the Belland moved to Bayside High School in Los Angeles, California.
Even though there was a revamp,Saved by the Bellstill counts as a spin-off. Students Zack Morris (Mark-Paul Gosselaar), Samuel “Screech” Powers (Dustin Diamond), and Lisa Turtle (Lark Voorhies) all made it over to the new show. So did the school’s principal, Mr. Belding (Dennis Haskins).Saved by the Bellonly had four seasons, but it remains a nostalgic favorite for those who grew up in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Reruns played for years on TBS, introducing new generations of kids to the series.
4’The Jeffersons' (1975 - 1985)
Based on: ‘All in the Family’ (1971 - 1979)
The Jeffersonsstars Sherman Hemsley (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) and Isabel Sanford (Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner) as George and Louise Jefferson, a Black couple who move into Manhattan from Queens following the success of George’s dry-cleaning business. The show ran for 11 seasons on CBS, earning 14 Primetime Emmy nominations. In 1981, Isabel Sanford won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for playing Louise Jefferson and became the first Black woman to win in this category.
George and Louise Jefferson started out ascharacters onAll in the Family, where they lived next door to Archie (Carroll O’Connor) and Edith (Jean Stapleton) Bunker in Queens. The Jeffersons appear throughoutAll in the Family’s first nine seasons. Their son, Lionel, is even in the series premiere.All in the Familyran for 11 seasons total and ultimately inspired seven spin-offs.The Jeffersonsremains the most well-known of them today.
3’The Andy Griffith Show' (1960 - 1968)
Based on: ‘The Danny Thomas Show’ (1953 - 1964)
The Andy Griffith Showstars Andy Griffithas Andy Taylor, sheriff of the quiet town of Mayberry, North Carolina. He is a widower with a young son named Opie (Ron Howard). It’s a simple set-up, but one that really worked.The Andy Griffith Showran for eight seasons on CBS, winning six Primetime Emmy Awards along the way. Andy Taylor’s first appearance, however, was in an episode ofThe Danny Thomas Show.
The Danny Thomas Show, which ran for 11 seasons, stars Danny Thomas as nightclub owner Danny Williams. In Season 7, Andy is introduced in an episode called “Danny Meets Andy Griffith.” This was four years beforeThe Danny Thomas Showended, but that did not stop CBS from developingThe Andy Griffith Showas an independent series.
2’Xena: Warrior Princess' (1995 - 2001)
Based on: ‘Hercules: The Legendary Journeys’ (1995 - 1999)
Lucy Lawless’s (Spartacus) iconic character of Xena originally appeared in Season 1, Episode 6 of Pacific Renaissance Pictures’Hercules: The Legendary Journeysstarring Kevin Sorbo (Andromeda). Xena was developed as a recurring character that would die after three episodes, but Lawless’s overwhelming popularity in the role gave producers a new idea. The character wasn’t killed off, appearing in eight episodes total.
When Universal Television asked producers to develop a spin-off forHercules, they decided that Xena would make a phenomenal star.Xena: Warrior Princessultimatelyran for six seasons. In 1997, Lawless was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Genre TV Actress. The show earned seven Primetime Emmy Awards, winning once in 2000 for music composition. Lawless loves the legacyXena: Warrior Princess has left in the pop culture sphere, particularly when it comes to ethnic diversity and the LGBTQ community. “A lot of people took messages of self-empowerment,” said Lawless during a 2019 panel, adding that the show “sparked positive change in so many people’s lives.”
1’The Twilight Zone' (1959 - 1964)
Based on: ‘Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse’ (1958 - 1960)
Today,The Twilight Zoneis known as an iconic sci-fi/horror anthology series created and hosted by screenwriter Rod Serling. It aired for five seasons on CBS, and various episodes have been cited as inspiration for many contemporary genre shows and movies.The Twilight Zonewas nominated for eight Primetime Emmy Awards, with Rod Serling winning in the Outstanding Writing category twice.
Between 1951 and 1957, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz had an anthology series calledWestinghouse Desilu Playhouse. The show aired on CBS, featuring different dramatic, comedic, or musical performances.Serling wrote an episodefor the show called “The Time Element” in 1958 and positive reviews gave Serling the opportunity to pitchThe Twilight Zoneto the network. The following year, Serling had his own series.
